The bard, and minor poems By John Walker Ord ... Collected and edited by John Lodge |
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LINES WRITTEN ON THE WRECK OF THE SHIP “LOCKWOOD.” |
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 | The bard, and minor poems |  |
235
LINES WRITTEN ON THE WRECK OF THE SHIP “LOCKWOOD.”
[_]
The American ship “Lockwood” presented a still more afflicting sight. When the people from the steamer reached her, they found in the poop alone thirty dead bodies, while below there were about the same number. They took all the survivors except two, a man, and his wife who was dying, and the man would not leave her, so was drowned. —Liverpool paper.
“O what are thousand living loves
To one that will not leave the dead.”
Byron.
To one that will not leave the dead.”
Byron.
The loud winds roll'd above them,
The loud waves roll'd below;
But louder than the tempest's roar,
And the winds o'erwhelming flow,
Were the shrieks that rent the firmament,
Where that ship reel'd to and fro.
The loud waves roll'd below;
But louder than the tempest's roar,
And the winds o'erwhelming flow,
Were the shrieks that rent the firmament,
Where that ship reel'd to and fro.
The black clouds frown'd in terror
O'er the wild sea-caverns there;
But blacker than the murky night,
Or the dread tempestuous air,
Was the gloom that bound these mariners
In that midnight of despair.
O'er the wild sea-caverns there;
But blacker than the murky night,
Or the dread tempestuous air,
Was the gloom that bound these mariners
In that midnight of despair.
Alas! the human agony—
Affection's passionate faith—
When the whirlwind's stormy thunder
Stopt fast each seaman's breath;
How terrible the force of love
That will not part in death!
Affection's passionate faith—
When the whirlwind's stormy thunder
Stopt fast each seaman's breath;
236
That will not part in death!
It was a dreadful history
That sad and woeful day,
To tell what weight of living trust
In Death's embraces lay:
How mightier far than mountain wave
Was Nature's giant sway.
That sad and woeful day,
To tell what weight of living trust
In Death's embraces lay:
How mightier far than mountain wave
Was Nature's giant sway.
So beautiful! so human!
The lover and the wife!
So true the heart—so firm the clasp—
Unwrench'd 'mid Ocean's strife—
That gave for love earth's dearest gift
And sacrifice—his life!
The lover and the wife!
So true the heart—so firm the clasp—
Unwrench'd 'mid Ocean's strife—
That gave for love earth's dearest gift
And sacrifice—his life!
And where is he, the husband?
The mourners, where are they?
Far o'er the wide Atlantic,
His laughing children play;
And the two, so fondly cherish'd,
Dwell in eternal day.
The mourners, where are they?
Far o'er the wide Atlantic,
His laughing children play;
And the two, so fondly cherish'd,
Dwell in eternal day.
In heaven's serene dominion,
Where nor storms nor tempests rave;
Beyond the world's commotion,
Beyond or wind or wave—
They join the blest Redeemer,
The Conqueror of the grave.
Where nor storms nor tempests rave;
Beyond the world's commotion,
Beyond or wind or wave—
They join the blest Redeemer,
The Conqueror of the grave.
| The bard, and minor poems | |